This athlete is known as the 2-time Olympic rowing gold medalist, and 5-time World Champion and have featured on ESPN. However, the journey to the pinnacle for the rowing champion wasn’t always a clear sight. Wavering mind, two hearts, and a chance encounter, all contributed to the Olympian’s path that she now embraces. Sports did not come easily to her, and the sophomore was the year to be in.

Susan Francia had quite the journey to the Olympics. Starting from Hungary, the path opened up only in Pennsylvania for the rowing star often backed by her mother. Today, as the latter walks up to the highest of stages to receive a Nobel prize, the switched roles brought about the uncertain journey of Francia.

The Olympic champion finds a way

One of the highlighted features of Susan is her height. Standing  187cm tall (6-foot-2-inches) tall, she was an easy catch for coaches of every other sport except gymnastics. Tagging along, she tried her hand at any sport her athletic figure could support. But when she decided to cut out sports after moving to the University of Pennsylvania, recruiting flyers for rowing found their way to Francia who was struggling academically and socially. “Something clicked with rowing. For the first time I didn’t just have ‘potential,’ I was actually excelling!“ she writes on her site.

The now 41-year-old graduated with a degree in criminology but declined jobs that came her way in the hopes of the Olympics. “Rowing was the first thing I was naturally gifted at, but if you don’t keep up that hard work, you can grow complacent.” However, through it all, Francia made her Olympic debut and managed to win the gold twice. But whenever the Olympic trials’ blues or the rest hit Susan, her mother ensured to hold her hand.

Susan’s mother’s strong hand

Francia’s mother, Katalin Karikó recently won a Nobel prize for helping with the COVID-19 vaccine. The scientist who knew the long hours and effort it took, always ensured to transfer it to her daughter. Through a song about the sweetness of one’s efforts during discouraging moments, and with encouraging words when hard work was required.

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“I was always prepared if it didn’t go well.  I was always ready to give her some little talks and encourage her,” mother Katalin Karikó says. And now as Katalin succeeded in her journey, it has been worth more for Francia than her Olympics glory.

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